TRANSFORMERS 2 REVIEW

Loud and even louder. This sequel is a mixed bag for myself. First off, I did like the first Transformers film a lot. There was definitely a lot to love about the original and I had a lot of entertainment from it. Which brings us to this sequel. This sequel has a lot of trade offs in which some aspects are better and some aspects are worse. 

On the positive side, the action sequences are much more better and bigger than the previous film. Michael bay definitely proves that he is a master with shooting action sequences and he definitely shows his talent in each frame of the big set pieces. Each action sequence eclipses what the previous action scene had in it's previous set piece. the biggest improvement is the ROBOTS! The CGI is as masterful and better looking than the previous film's CGI. The Robots are so highly detailed that you are just going to be amazed by the film. The robots covered a wide range and they get more and more crowd pleasing. They provide for some fantastic action sequences and are huge crowd pleasers! For those who were disappointed with Megatron in the first film, you won't be disappointed in this film. He has a much bigger role in this film. The editing of the film also is more improved than the last film. Bay has heard our prayers for a more cohesive editing style for a transformers and he delivered. 

Onto the negatives. These all stem from story-line and the script. I didn't really connect to the film as I did the last time. There are some moments in this story line where you just have to kind of take big leaps of faith, even for this material. The plot makes no sense whatsoever! You can smell the fact that Michael Bay wrote this film and had the writers (Kurtzman, Orci, and Kruger: The same team who gave us the great STAR TREK film this film!) try to connect his shitty script to make some sense. Another improvement is that the film was seem-lying focusing on was Sam and the transformers relationship and then they dump it out the window! There is a twist that had me question where are the boundaries in the Decepticon's "transformations?" It becomes too much at one point and it becomes almost comedic to where it pulled me out of the film. The film could have done without this "human" transformation, it was just weird and juvenile.

The other compliant with this film is from the actors and the story. I couldn't connect to the emotions and the characters in the film. One problem stems from the new villain of the film "The Fallen." The backstory behind how these transformers are on Earth seemed a bit shoe-horned to buy it. What I didn't like with the edition of The Fallen was the fact that they turned Megatron into Darth Vadar with their master and apprentice relationship. I also thought that some of the humor didn't belong in this film and it seemed real out of place. Another big problem is that the Transformers are not interesting at the least! They are boring me! Character development (if you can call it that) was horrible and sacrificed for the great action sequences. 

One of the biggest complaints I have about this film, is that is it downright overly offensive at times. With the transformers that play radical racial stereotypes that just don't fit in the film and you get the sense that Bay let his ego get to his head and just put whatever he felt was funny into the film. It was something that I just thought the film definitely didn't need and it was just out of place. This film just feels as if the bad jokes from Michael Bay's other films (Bad Boys, Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor) have made their way into this film, 10 fold!

Overall, I'd place this film right next to the original. Some improvements, but it is very flawed. It's as entertaining and awesome as it can be expected. Overall, I'd say this is a MATINEE to see it on a big screen. This is definitely meant for the big screen. It's a summer action film, but it is very flawed. definitely not Bay's masterpiece, but I liked it fine as dumb summer entertainment and it was ok. Check it out on the big screen because this definitely dumb summer entertainment, but don't try to take this movie seriously at all. A supervisor from work was angry that the whole theater laughed at the screening, and there is no way you can go through the whole film without laughing your ass off! Go see it, and just turn your brain off. For those of you who are going to pay to see this film in IMAX, there is some sequences shot for IMAX, but MICHAEL FUCKIN BAY IS NOT A CHRISTOPHER NOLAN!!!! The IMAX sequences are weird for the shots that Bay decided to choose to shoot on IMAX. THE DARK KNIGHT was a fucking technical achievement in IMAX, but Bay seems to have only a case of "IMAX-envy" from DARK KNIGHT's record breaking numbers at imax, that he wanted to try the same thing. When the film comes out on BLU-RAY, it's going to be a near schizophrenic transfer that will drive people nuts! I wouldn't say it's really bad, but I'd say it's everything I thought it was going to be, only worse. Check it out once in the summer and you'll never see it again.

Disapointed by Transformers...(sigh)

See ya next time guys!

YEAR ONE REVIEW!

Hey guys! Just got back from a pre-screening of Harold Ramis' YEAR ONE starring Jack Black and Michael Cera, produced by Judd Apatow.

Bottom line? The movie was ok. I found myself laughing at seeing the usual Apatow crew and noticing where they were scattered. The story didn't really cut it out for me, as much as the message behind the film was strong enough, but everything else was kind of flat.

The Positive aspects about this film as with any Apatow film is the casting. Peppered throughout the entire film are cameos from Apatow regulars in unexpected roles (Bill Hader, McLovin, Hank Azeria, Paul Rudd, and Kyle Gass to name a few) Jack Black and Michael Cera work surprisingly well for this type of film. I am personally always annoyed by Michael Cera doing his whole "I am uncomfortable in my own skin with members of the opposite sex" act that I thought I was going to hate him, but I actually did like him in the film. Faring as well was Jack Black. He pulled his whole Jack Blackism as he does in every film, but had fun watching him in this. I thought the one character that stole the show a lot of the time he was onscreen was Oliver Platt as the High Priest. He was hilarious and the conclusion his character comes to just has you laughing all through. The low points of this film is the storyline. The storyline is very cheesey and predictable and seems to just shoehorn biblical elements for the sake of parodying them. The scenes that worked the best for Me was in the first act and 3rd act and beyond. I wasn't really bored, but that second act was real weak and it was leaving me a bit bored at times. Overall, the movie was ok and it was entertaining. However, I can't quite recommend this one to everybody. This film seems like a misstep for the guy who wrote classics such as Caddyshack and Ghostbusters. It definitely is one of the weaker of the Apatow films to come out. I can't say it's horrible, but I can definitely say that it's a solid RENTAL. Don't pay to see it one the big screen, you'll have a much better time being able to have a few drinks and watch this film (as I was able to for this screening :D) but it's an ok film, just be sure to rent it at best if you really want to see it.

There ya go, Disapointed by Judd and crew. Maybe this will be their slight start of a downfall or will this be Judd's Drillbit Taylor and will he redeem himself with Funny People this summer? Time will tell! Till next time guys!

Still laughing and still on about THE HANGOVER! ;D

I enjoyed the hell out of this film! This is about a solid of a comedy as I have seen in a while. This is definitely the Todd Phillips we have been craving for since he did Old School. Like that film as well this is pretty much about guys who decide to have a guy's ramp, and that goes horribly wrong. This film is hilariously paced to where as each revelation is uncovered, you get the sense that these guys went through too much too quickly. Although highly implausible, it's a comedy and this very much plays to the points where the plot becomes nearly impossible, but its pretty damn hilarious. What this film also does is create characters that we can easily relate to or know from our lives. 

The plot is very much a mystery/comedy. They are trying to find that one member of the group that is getting married and they are busting their balls trying to find this guy. That is the whole point to this film is that by the beginning of the last act, all bets are off and you don't know how this could possibly end. It was enjoyable to have these moments play out for the laughs. The actors are all perfectly cast as well. I liked Bradley Cooper's character in the film, Ed Helms is pretty naive and hilarious at that too, but the real standout of the film has to be Zack Galifianakis. It's funny because last year Zack was in a little film called WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS (2008) and the only laugh I got out of that piece of FOX mediocrity was when Zack Galifianakis appeared on screen for those 2 minutes, and this film is definitely his calling card because he just steals every scene he is in and makes everything that much more uncomfortable and hilarious! He's such a great comedian and it's definitely good to see him shine in a film like this because he rightly deserves so. This is definitely a Todd Phillips film. Peppered throughout the film is some great comedians and cameos that you'll just love. 

Overall, this is definitely going to be a classic in every sense! This is very much a film by people who have clearly been on this type of night out and they are willing to bring you along on this crazy ass trip, and if you take it you'll have a great time. This film as any great night out ends with a few horrific revelations and laughs with your buddies!

With that said...

HIGH FULL PRICE!!! GO SEE IT NOW AND SEE IT WITH SOME BUDDIES...

and a few drinks on top of that won't hurt neither!...Until...

The hangover starts up. Ha ha ha ha

Enjoy the Flick guys!

Till next time, here's another two cents!

Drag Me To Hell Mr. Riami!!!!

Dear Mr. Sam Riami:

Thank You for giving us yet another great hard nipple in the rain sequence!

With that said...

Thanks for coming back to your horror roots for another fun time at the movies! 

This film is just a really fun time at the movies! This film is meant to be over the top and a thrill ride and Riami delivers, and beat for beat this works as well as his older forays into the horror genre. There is a nice blend of obesity and comedy with some truly scary imagery in this film. The film is essentially Riami's love letter to his Evil Dead and horror fans and it works to where you don't have to be a lover of those films to appreciate the film he's given us here. Even anybody who is a fan of the Spider-Man films can love this film (as I was, because I got fish-hooked into the Evil Dead series after seeing the Spider-Man films) but Sam is back in the best way. Say what you will about Spider-Man 3 (2007) and as much as I actually enjoyed the film, you can tell Riami's heart was definitely into this film every step of the way. The basic premise is a young girl that gets cursed by an ol' ass hag of a gypsy and she needs to find a way to break the curse. Simple, but effectively hilarious and over the top. I really dug what Riami was going for in this film as he does provide some gag inducing moments in the film (I say it in the best possible way) with good horror moments. Alison Lohman does a suitable job in this picture and I did like her arc as a character and the ultimate conclusion that this film comes to is suitable and it does fit. I remember hearing about how Ellen Page was cast in the role Alison ended up playing, and was really excited because I do like Ellen Page's work, but Alison Lohman really does work well in the picture. I liked Lohman in the role. You can't not talk about the cast without mentioning Lorna Raver as Mrs. Ganush as she is freakin creepy as all hell and the moment she appears onscreen she does give the sense that you don't want to mess with this ol' woman! She does a fantastic job in the role and she makes it her own. The scenes between her and Alison in the very beginning is sure to draw applause, laughs, and gags! Its all so deliciously good! The plot has a lot to love about it. It is not being serious in the least. It is simply going to tell a story and just deal with it. I know some people gagged at the fact this was PG-13, it makes no difference whatsoever! This is Riami, and he is doing what he loves and if you're willing to go for the ride, you'll have a lot of fun with this film! I enjoyed the "hell" out of this film! I'd say a definite FULL-PRICE!!! Go see it with a couple of friends and with some alcoholic beverages in hand because I can't morally endorse drug use. Fun time at the movies! Go see it!!! 

Till next time! Here's my two cents!

UP review!

Wow! Within the first 10 minutes of the film, I got more story than most of the films I have seen so far this year! I loved the Hell out of this film. This is high "up" there with the best pixar films since Finding Nemo. Its personally better than Wall-E because you fall in love with the character of Carl very early on and you love this mean old man. This film is just a great Exercise in storytelling. The film doesn't prepare you for the emotional punch that this film hits you with time and time again. This is a film that is so radically different than any animated film you have seen. I love the direction that Pixar is taking with their films since the Incredibles by making their films much more mature, but having enough visual and storytelling interest that will draw the younger audiences. This film just hits you so hard emotionally and comically that you are just going to love the hell out of this film. The story is stunningly emotional and its above all a great kid's and adventure film. The animation is great and the 3D was cool. The voice acting works. Talking about the voice acting, you can't not talk about the talking dogs. The talking dogs are so damn funny and they make the talking dog idea work in a way we have never seen before. Dug is obviously one of the best characters of the film and you can't help but easily fall in love with a character in this film. I also love that there is not a single pop culture reference in the whole film and the last 45 minutes are fantastic! Overall, this is one of the best pixar films of all time. The emotional impact is amazingly delivered. I love the overall message of the film! It's such a fantastic piece of film that it's got "classic" written all over it! I say it's a HIGH FULL-PRICE!! GO SEE THIS FILM! 2D or 3D the film is fantastic, hilarious, and emotional! This is one of the best films of 2009 and it's about time for an animated film to win best picture, thats how great this story is!

Terminator Salvation!

Ok, so I have been waiting for a new Terminator film for the past 18 years of my life since the last one Terminator 2 came out in 1991. Note that I said Terminator 2 was the last one, not fucking Terminator 3 from back in 2003. Terminator 3 was a shit storm of an action movie that just didn't work. I couldn't connect to it or care about any of the characters. Terminator 3 left me speechless in the sense that now the franchise was going down and no hope of light at the end of the tunnel. I hated what the third film stood for which was sucking the tit from James Cameron's masterful creation. That movie just didn't work and it wasn't as deep as any of the films that had come before it and it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Now the news of the director of the Charlie's Angels movies was at the helm to direct the next Terminator film? I cried that this film was going to suck balls. Then I heard that my all-time favorite actor Christian Bale had signed on to play John Connor. Hook line and sinker, I was going to see this film no matter what. That was about a year and half ago. Which brings us to now! 

The trailers for this film got better and better. It showed that this had potential to be awesome. I got the see the film after much debacles and mix-ups, but I finally got to see it at a packed 10pm screening on Thursday night! Needless to say...I DUG IT ALOT! I thought that this film was spot on the action sequences. This one definitely has more action than T3, but T3's action set pieces seemed very forced and were terribly edited. Terminator Salvation's set pieces seemed to fit together in more of the grand scheme of the way the action fit into the first two films. Is it any better or as good as the first two? Not by a mile unfortunately. But that is not to say that this is a bad film by any stretch. Far from the turd that was T3.  

The basic premise of this film follows John Connor's search for Kyle Reese (true fans will know their relationship) and his rise in the resistance to attaining that symbol of hope for the future as was told in the last 3 films, while we also follow a death-row inmate named Marcus Wright, who was put to death in 2003 and wakes up in the post apocalyptic world. The plot of the film had more meat on the bones than did T3. T3 was just a rehash of T2 in every respect. Salvation feels like it's own thing now. It feels as if it is paying respect to the original films and it is merely trying to build upon those moments in the future that were only glimpses at. This is it's own animal. They are not trying to outdo Cameron, simply pay tribute to his films. The acting this ok. There are Three stand-outs from the film. Christian Bale as John Connor was awesome, but he was kind of one note. It seemed as if he played the role a bit too badass and rough. With that said, he was an awesome John Connor. He does not feel as weak as the previous ones and does a very suitable job with the role. This is the future and hard-edged John Connor and Bale pulls it off. But he wasn't my favorite role in the film. This is turning into Anton Yelchin's breakout summer with this and Star Trek. As he did in Star Trek, he nails a role that was loved by many and does an awesome job and gives a very loving and respectful portrayal of Michael Biehn's role in T1. You feel for this character as he is trying to survive and how he came to become who he was in the first Terminator.  

The real standout in this film and I guarantee he will be the next big thing is Sam Worthington! He fucking does a fantastic job with the role of Marcus Wright! I loved his character and the angle they decided to play it off with in the mid-point of the film. Marcus was the one character I connected to and just wanted to see more of and he steals this picture from Christian, and that is a tough act to pull as a newcomer. So kudos to Sam! He's got this, James Cameron's AVATAR (2009) due out in Christmas!, and the remake of Clash of the Titans coming out, it is no doubt that he will be the next big thing and all I can say is bring it on Sam!  

In terms of the directing, McG does a surprising job with the film. It is clearly lacking in the direction at times and it feels as if he could have helped tone his actors a bit more in some scenes, but he did a much better job with the film than Jonathan Mostow did with the last film as you can smell it from a mile that McG can handle himself with this material better and I am glad that he can, cause he made one badass of a Terminator Flick.  

Overall, this film was an awesome ride. This is on it's way to being one of my favorite films of the summer. It was badass! It was everything it needed to be to breath some life into this series that was flatlining after Terminator 3. Terminator 3 nearly killed the franchise, and this film Salvaged it. While the ending was a bit of a stretch, and seemed a bit off, I took it. This is the Terminator film that I wanted with Terminator 3, but it is not perfect. This film has a couple of flaws to it in terms of some of the acting and the script, but it was a thrill-ride and I had a shitton of fun with it! I'd give this one a HIGH FULL PRICE! Definitely a worthy entry into the franchise! This film is clearly made by people who love the Terminator Mythos and get it. Lots of references for the die-hard fans that will just eat this film up! I love the direction this series is heading with this arc. Fun time at the movies and killer summer action flick!

Till next time, Heres my 2 cents! Enjoy the flick and have a great memorial day weekend!

The First Post!

It's Andres!

Your Friend and humble newcomer to the blogosphere! I decided to take it upon myself to give my two cents to some of the new entertainment news that has been going on. First off, I want to start off with some of the current events in the news. So with that said, I don't believe in absolutism. I have an opinion and I understand everyone else will have an opinion. I actually like to be wrong or have someone change my mind because I don't believe in being closed minded. I want to expand my mind, if you have an opposing opinion, I'd love to hear it. I do not claim to know more than anyone else, but I do love to comment on random ass things and I'll drop a line for my films here and there. With that said, if you enjoy rants, vulgarities, and an opionion on random ass facts by Some Random Spanish dude? Then sit back and enjoy. I will post as often as I can and bring you my two cents every now and again!

Enjoy Guys!